A Burning Question

This fascinating and clarifying look at the debate surrounding global warming explores the striking disconnect between the relatively clear-cut concerns of the world's most prominent scientists and the maze of speculation, rhetorical posturing, and outright misinformation that attaches to this issue whenever it's taken up by politicians, PR specialists, and political pundits. Mixing a localized focus on Ireland with insights from scientists and leaders from around the world, the film serves as both a primer on climate science and a penetrating analysis of media framing and the science of perception management. An excellent resource for courses in science, environmental studies, global politics, and media.

Features commentary from former Irish president Mary Robinson, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, paleoclimatologist Jennifer McElwain, and a host of other prominent scientists and commentators.

"If you are skeptical about human-caused climate change, watch this
movie. It provides a clear and compelling case for the reality of
the problem and the threat to our future that it poses."
- Michael E. Mann | Author of The Hockey Stick and the Climate
Wars

"A Burning Question picks up where An Inconvenient Truth
left off, not just updating the data of climate change, but probing
the disinformation and media confusion that obstruct action on
civilization's greatest challenge. The setting is Ireland, but the
story is the world's. See it!"
- William deBuys | Author of A Great Aridness: Climate Change
and the Future of the American Southwest

"Engaging and informative. Gets to the heart of the politics of
climate change, examining the relationship between the science, the
vested interests, the media, and the public. Essential
viewing."
- Justin Lewis | Head of School, Journalism, Media and Cultural
Studies, Cardiff University

"Powerful and revealing. It should be seen by everyone, not just
those who are already convinced about the realities and dangers of
climate change."
- Dr. David Goodstein, Ph.D. | Professor of Physics and Applied
Physics at California Institute of Technology | Author of
Climate Change and the Energy Problem: Physical Science and
Economics Perspective

"A sober, clear, and convincing account of the science of global
warming and the challenges we face in responding."
- Dale Jamieson, Ph.D. | Professor & Director of Environmental
Studies at New York University | Co-editor of Climate Ethics:
Essential Readings

"Everyone concerned about their children's and grandchildren's
future should see this outstanding film. A Burning Question
is balanced, scientifically accurate, and pulls no punches. Don't
miss it."
- James Lawrence Powell, Ph.D. | Executive Director of the National
Physical Science Consortium | Author of Rough Winds: Extreme
Weather and Climate Change

"Based in Ireland, this film follows an imaginary citizen who wants
to unravel the conflicting views he hears about climate change in
the media. With the help of some excellent authorities such as Mary
Robinson and Peter Lynch at University College Dublin, he realizes
that the scientific consensus around climate change is quite
strong, measured, and without corruption."
- Jeremy Bendik-Keymer | Beamer-Schneider Professor in Ethics at
Case Western Reserve University | Co-editor of Ethical Adaption
to Climate Change: Human Virtues of the Future

"This film is a really important dissection of the shifting
contours of changing climates and competing media and scientific
discourses. A Burning Question brings out the exceptional
urgency of reversing those interlocking processes that are already
transforming lives and environments across the globe."
- John Urry | Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Lancaster
University | Author of Climate Change and Society and Societies
Beyond Oil

"Clearly articulates the gap between the science of climate change
and public perception of that science. Watch it with a friend."
- Stephen M. Gardiner | Professor of Philosophy at the University
of Washington

"This film should be seen by everyone. It starts with the doubts
and confusions of so many popular beliefs about climate change.
Then, step by step, it explains clearly why more than 99% of
climate scientists believe it to be real, to be mainly caused by
human burning of fossil fuels, and to pose huge dangers to our
children and grandchildren, unless we take action to change our
ways now."
- Constance Lever-Tracy, Ph.D. | Adjunct Senior Lecturer at
Flinders University | Author of Confronting Climate
Change

"A fascinating, very clear and non-technical message, exploring
both sides of the issue, leading to a strong endorsement of global
climate change."
- Orrin H. Pilkey, Ph.D. | Professor Emeritus of Geology at Duke
University | Co-Author of Global Climate Change: A
Primer

"A compelling analysis both of the threat posed by climate change
and of the difficulties of generating public support for measures
needed to combat it."
- Dr. Anthony Giddens | Professor of Sociology of London School of
Economics | Author of The Politics of Climate Change

"Peels back the blanket of public confusion concerning global
warming while providing a clear and compelling exposition of the
basic science of climate change."
- Lee Kump | Head, Dept. of Geosciences, Penn State | Lead author
of The Earth System and co-author of Dire Predictions:
Understanding Global Warming